Jacksonville, Fla. – December 10, 2013 – Jacksonville-area residents will have the opportunity to learn from leading national and local movement disorder experts on the latest research and treatment, and discuss practical ways to live well with Parkinson’s disease at The Victory Summit®. This upbeat, interactive event is hosted by the Davis Phinney Foundation and will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Adam W. Herbert University Center at the University of North Florida. The event is free to the public, and advance registration is strongly recommended.

The Victory Summit is a national educational series created by the Davis Phinney Foundation in 2008, which provides four cities each year with the unique daylong opportunity for people affected by Parkinson’s to become empowered with new information, access to local resources and tools to incorporate into daily living with the disease. The Jacksonville event will be presented in partnership with the Mayo Clinic in Florida, Lyerly Neurosurgery, University of Florida Health Neuroscience Institute – Jacksonville, Baptist Neurology Group and Brooks Rehabilitation. Medtronic and AbbVie are event sponsors.

Attendees will find motivation and encouragement for living well at all ages and stages of Parkinson’s. “Prior to attending The Victory Summit in my hometown of Denver last year I was afraid to fully acknowledge the implications of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” said Mike Riley, Davis Phinney Foundation board member. “While it was hard to get there as I wasn’t feeling great that morning, the event changed my life. My fears and hesitations subsided with the genuine camaraderie and support from others affected by Parkinson’s and the knowledge of how to fight the good fight against this disease.”

The Victory Summit – Jacksonville highlights include:

Parkinson’s Research Update: Telemedicine

Exercise as Medicine

Deep Brain Stimulation

Presentations on Fall Prevention, Sleep, Care for the Care Partner, Nutrition and more

Interactive movement breaks and exercise sessions, including dance and yoga

“Moments of Victory” talk by Davis Phinney, cycling legend and Parkinson’s quality of life advocate

“The Victory Summit creates the opportunity for dialogue and insights that can invigorate patients’ efforts to become more active participants in their care,” said neurosurgeon Brad Wallace, MD, PhD, Lyerly-Baptist. “Evolving Parkinson’s research and treatment benefits underscore the importance of active involvement in the process to positively impact symptom relief and overall quality of life, and even perhaps slow progression of the disease.”

“Local Hero” Award

During The Victory Summit, the Davis Phinney Foundation will present a “Local Hero” Award to Jacksonville Beach resident Bill Wilson for his commitment to activating change in the local Parkinson’s community and dedication to living well with the disease. As a trained research advocate for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Wilson educates others about the disease, collaborates with professionals on the front lines of research, and encourages those with Parkinson’s to get up and do something every day to combat disease symptoms. He and his wife also created the First Coast Parkinson’s Disease Newsletter to help “get people informed from one side of town to the other” about Jacksonville-area Parkinson’s resources.

“We are thrilled to honor Bill Wilson and bring together the growing Parkinson’s community in Jacksonville,” said Polly Dawkins, executive director of the Davis Phinney Foundation. “Beyond education, The Victory Summit will help participants get moving, celebrate their daily victories and make changes to live fully and thrive in ways never thought possible from learning about people like Bill who are passionate about motivating others to live well.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand, but while tremor may be the most well known sign of Parkinson’s disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.[1] Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medications, and in some later cases, surgery may be advised.[2] More than 1.5 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease today. The disease affects men and women alike, and its frequency is considerably higher in the over-60 age group, although there is an alarming increase of patients of younger age.[3]

Davis Phinney Foundation

Since 2004, the Davis Phinney Foundation has invested more than $3.8 million in initiatives to support, inform and inspire people living with Parkinson’s to live well today. The Foundation’s major initiatives include: the Every Victory Counts™ manual, developed by movement disorder experts to encourage living well with Parkinson’s; The Victory Summit® symposia series, which brings leading experts into communities to share advances in science and care and to inspire those affected by the disease to celebrate daily victories; and the funding of research focused on exercise, speech and other quality of life therapies. Visit the web site: www.davisphinneyfoundation.org.